PORTLAND, ME --- The Thunder got a late burst of offense to earn a win, 6-1, in the first game of their doubleheader with Portland, but, dropped the second game, 6-4, on Tuesday night at Hadlock Field.After leading 1-0 for much of the opening game, the Thunder needed an extra
PORTLAND, ME --- The Thunder got a late burst of offense to earn a win, 6-1, in the first game of their doubleheader with Portland, but, dropped the second game, 6-4, on Tuesday night at Hadlock Field.
After leading 1-0 for much of the opening game, the Thunder needed an extra inning to finish off a win in the first game of the doubleheader. Gosuke Katoh and Chris Gittens started the Thunder offense in the first inning with back-to-back walks against Portland's starter Dedgar Jimenez. After Bruce Caldwell and Jhalan Jackson each struck out, Ben Ruta dropped a double down the left field line to score Katoh and take the early lead.
Justus Sheffield cruised through six innings with the 1-0 lead. Sheffield matched his Thunder-high with nine strikeouts and scattered six total baserunners over his outing. The left-hander has now struck out eight or more batters in four straight starts and 13 times total in his career.
The Sea Dogs managed a run in the top of the seventh to push the game into extras. Andrew Schwaab took over for the save opportunity and allowed Tate Matheny to reach on an infield single and walked Tony Renda. After a sacrifice bunt, Jhon Nunez drove in Matheny with a sacrifice fly to left. Schwaab came back to get Danny Mars to fly out and end the threat and force extra innings.
Trenton's offense exploded for five runs in the top of the eighth with three extra base hits. With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Chris Gittens hammered the second pitch of the inning over the Maine Monster to take a 3-1 lead. After a Caldwell single to center, Jhalan Jackson hit his league-leading eighth home run of the season to take a 5-1 lead. Ben Ruta followed with a triple off the wall in right and later scored a sacrifice fly from Cesar Diaz.
With a 6-1 lead in his back pocket, Schwaab returned to the mound in the eighth and retired the side in order.
In the second game, Brian Keller battled baserunners early and often during his four innings on the mound. Portland broke through for a pair in the third inning on run-scoring doubles from Tony Renda and Austin Rei.
The Thunder offense grabbed the lead in the top of the fourth with four runs. Mandy Alvarez drove in a pair with a bases loaded double to left to tie the game and Cesar Diaz and Chace Numata followed with run-scoring singles to take a 4-2 lead.
The Sea Dogs offense would rally back against Keller and Hobie Harris after the top of the fourth. Portland drew closer with an RBI single from Josh Ockimey in the bottom of the fourth and tied the game with a solo homer from Luke Tendler in the fifth. Working against Harris, the Sea Dogs went in front with a two-run home run from Cole Sturgeon in the sixth inning to secure the victory.
Your Thunder will play the rubber match of their series with Portland on Wednesday night at 6:00pm. RHP Dillon Tate (1-1, 3.30) will start for the Thunder, RHP Kevin McAvoy (0-0, 4.41) will go for Portland. Pre-game coverage begins at 5:45pm on 920 AM The Jersey and online www.TrentonThunder.com/Broadcast.
